Push button type display correction mechanism on a timepiece

ABSTRACT

Push button-operated motion-control or display correction mechanisms in timepieces, especially chronograph- and stop watches in which at least one motion-transmitting member is arranged between a plate and a sensible member which is preferably a chronograph hand arbor, for cooperation with said button and said sensible member. A spring urges said motiontransmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button. The motion-transmitting member has two operating positions for different cooperation with said button. When a regular manual pressure force is applied to said button, the force as such will be transmitted from said button through said transmitting member when it is positioned at its first cooperating position, to said sensible member for effective position control thereof. When a substantial force is applied substantially larger than said manual pressure force upon said button, said transmitting member is positioned now at its second cooperating position under the combined influence of its substantial inertia and the resiliency of the spring will be blocked from its receding movement and the button movement checked through said transmitting member by a stationary member, preferably a watch casing.

I United States Patent [191 Matsumura et al.

[ Sept. 3, 1974 PUSH BUTTON TYPE DISPLAY CORRECTION MECHANISM ON ATIMEPIECE [75] I Inventors: Tetso Matsumura; Akira Tsuzuki;

Kazuo Tanaka; Choken Suzuki, all of Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: CitizenWatch Company Limited,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: June 2, 1972 211 App]. No.: 259,018

' [52] US. Cl. 58/74 [51] Int. Cl. G04f' 7/04 [58] Field of Search58/74-79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,452,539 7/1969Iwasawa et aL'. 58/79 3,457,720 7/l969 Bachmann .5 8/76 PrimaryExaminer-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stem 57ABSTRACT Push button -operated motion-control or, display corsensiblemember.

rection mechanisms in timepieces, especially chronographand stop watchesin which at least one motiontransmitting member is arranged between aplate and a sensible member which is preferably a chronograph handarbor, for cooperation with said button and said A spring urges saidmotiontransmitting member towards its cooperating position with saidbutton. The motion-transmitting member has two operating positions fordifferent cooperation with said button. When a regular manual pressureforce is applied to said button, the force as such will be transmittedfrom said button through said transmitting member when it is positionedat its first cooperating position, to said sensible member for effectiveposition control thereof. When a substantial force is appliedsubstantially larger than said manual pressure force upon said button,said transmitting member is positioned now at its second cooperatingposition under the combined influence of its substantial inertia and theresiliency of the spring will be blocked from its receding movement andthe button movement checked through said transmitting member by astationary member, preferably a watch casing.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Ran PAlimcosm m4 I 4 SHEET 20! 5PA-TENTEBSE" v 3.832.844 sum w s I PUSH BUTTON TYPEDISPLAY CORRECTIONMECHANISM ON A TIMEPIECE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION V PRIOR ART In theconventional push button-operated motion a control or display correctionmechanism which is used in a timepiece, especially-a chronograph, stopwatchor regular watch, for instance, for a position control or handsresetting operation includes a cam fixedly mounted on the arbor carryingthe secondsor minute hand .or the like which is brought into pressurecooperation by a correction lever directly or indirectly connected withthe push button normally exposing at least partially from inside of thewatch case, for performing the required correction or the like job.

In this kind of the push button operated control or correction mechanismof the conventional structure, if the push button,.correction lever andthe intermediate working members arranged therebetween be made of rigidmaterial, then a sudden and substantial shock transmitted from thebutton through these intermediate members to the secondsor minute handor to both, strong damage or even breakage of the arbor or its relatedbearing parts could be invited. For avoiding this possible drawback,resilient means is inserted in the intermediate-transmitting passageextending from the button to the arbor. By the provision of suchresilient means, statical heavier forces can be effectively avoided toinvite breakage of the arbor and its bearings. If, however, a sudden andsubstantial mechanical shock is applied to the button, such as bydropping the timepiece upon the floor, damage could frequently occur atthe aforementioned most sensible watch parts, especially when themotion-transmitting speed exceeds beyond the responsible speedcorresponding to the elasticity of the resilient means. In this case,the resilient means would act as if it was made from rigid material.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the presentinvention is to provide an efficient push button-operated motioncontrol-and- /or correction mechanism used in a timepiece, devoid ofsaid kind of conventional drawbacks andwhich is highly effective foravoiding damage and breakage in and at the sensitivetimedisplayhand-carrying arborand/or its bearings by occasional and unintentionalapplication of a mechanical shock onto the control button, yet having asimple design.

The above and further objects, featuresand advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent when read the following detailed descriptionof the specifications, by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In its broadest sense, the push button-operated motion-transmitting ordisplay correction'mechanism for a timepiece embodying the novelprinciples of the present invention resides in that it comprises a pushbutton, a sensible member adapted for indication of a certaintime-related display, at least a motion-transmitting member arrangedbetween said button and said sensible member adapted for cooperationwith said button and said sensible member, spring means urging saidmotion-transmitting member towards its cooperating position with saidbutton, and means for bringing the last-mentioned member to twodifferent positions for different cooperation with said button, aregular manual pressure force applied to said button being trans mittedas per se from said button through said transmitting member whenpositioned at its first cooperating position, to said sensible memberand a sudden and substantial force substantially larger than said manualpressure force acting upon said transmitting member which is positionedat its second cooperating position under the combined influence of itssubstantial inertia and the spring resiliency of said spring means, andtransmit said sudden and substantial force to a stationary member of thetimepiece for being received thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a plan viewof a first embodiment of the invention, as applied to a chronographwatch movement,

only partially shown, in which the movable parts of the chronograph areshown in their moving position, while the upper and lower chronographbridges have been omitted from the drawing for more clearlydemonstrating inner working parts.

FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 wherein the relative working parts ofthe mechanism and the chronograph are shown in their positioncorresponding to that in which the chronograph hands, not shown, arestopped.

FIG. 3 isa similar view to FIG. 1, wherein the control push button hasbeen pushed-in to its most inward position.

FIG. 4 is only a part of the mechanism shown so far, yet being shown ona somewhat enlarged scale, wherein, however, the control push button hasbeen pushed-in by application thereto of a sudden and substantialmechanical shock.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along section line VV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along section line VI-VI in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 for show ing several mainparts of the mechanism more in detail a and more clearly.

FIG. 8 is a substantially similar view to FIG. 1, showing a secondembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. 8, illustrating such position whereinthe control push button has been pushed-in by application of a suddenand substantial mechanical shock.

FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 8, showing a third embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged part of FIG. 10, for showing the operationalrelationship between the control push button and the inertia memberemployed therein.

FIG. 12 is a similar view to FIG. 8, yet showing a fourth embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 13 is a similar view to FIG. 9, showing the fourth embodiment. I

FIG. 14 is a similar view to FIG. 8, yet showing a fifth embodiment ofthe invention.

a FIG. 15 is a similar view to FIG. 9, showing the fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE EMBODIMENTS Referring now'to FIGS. 1-4 of theaccompanying drawings, a first embodiment of the invention will bedescribed in detail.

Numeral 1 represents a conventional pillar plate of a chronograph watch,only partially shown, on which plate a conventional barrel bridge 2,only partially shown, is fixedly mounted, although the fixing screwshave been omitted from the drawing only for simplicity.

A control push button 3, shown only schematically and partially, isslidably mounted through the wall of a conventional watch casing, notshown, encasing the watch movement shown generally at 100. A furthercontrol push button 4, shown only schematically and partially, ismounted slidably in the same manner as above. A motion-transmittinglever 5 having an intermediate projection 5a and an end arm 5b, ispivotable around a pivot pin 7a studded on an upper chronograph bridgewhich is fixedly mounted on barrel bridge 2, although not shown, saidend arm 5b being kept normally in pressure engagement with a pin 9afixedly mounted on a buffer lever 9 which is pivotably mounted on-apivot pin 7b studded on said upper chronograph bridge.

An elongated strip spring 10 is fixed with its root portion to saidupper chronograph bridge by means of a set screw 7g and a positioningpin 7h, the tip end of said strip spring being kept in pressureengagement with the idle end of said lever 5, so as to urge the latterto rotate in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1.

An actuator lever 6 has a slot 6b through which a screw stud 2k passesand is studded on the barrel bridge 2, thus said lever being slidable aswell as pivotable relative thereto. An elongated and curved strip spring11 is fixedly attached atits root portion by a positioning pin 98 and aset screw 99 to the barrel bridge 2. An opening 11a formed at the tipend of said spring 11 is kept'in engagement with an upstanding pin 6afixedly mounted on actuating lever 6 which is thus urged resiliently inthe radially outward direction. In this way,:a pawl projection 60'formed on the lever 6 will be subjected to a-resiliently urging pressurewith a toothed and pinned actuator wheel 12 which is rotatably mountedaround a screwed stud 97 on the bridge 2. A plurality of concentricallyarranged positioning and drive pins 12a are seen in FIGS. 1-3, as beingfixedly mounted on the wheel 12 which is formed at itsouter peripherywith sprocket teeth 12b.

An elongated pressure spring 13, substantially shown in dotted lineonly-in FIGS. 1-3, is fixedly attached to the barrel bridge 2 by meansof a positioning pin 95 and a set screw 96, the tip end of this springbeing shaped into a pawl and kept in engagement with the sprocket teeth12b on the wheel 12'.

An operator lever 14 is formed with afirstprojection 14a which isadapted for cooperation with a heart shaped cam 22, as will be morefully described hereinafter. The lever 14 is further provided with threedifferent pins 14b, 14c and 14d, of which the first one is designed andarranged so as to cooperate with a minute hand stop lever pivotablymounted on a conventional lower chronograph bridge, not shown, by apivot pin 80, with said lower bridge being rigidly attached to saidupper chronograph bridge from below, although not shown. The second pin140 is kept in pressure engagement with the tip of an elongated furtherspring 15 which is fixedly attached to the upper chronograph bridge bymeans of set screws, one of the latter being shown at 7d. The third pin14d is adapted for cooperation with the intermediate projection 5a ofthe lever 5, as will be more fully described hereinafter. A tooth-likeprojection Me is formed on the lever 14, so asto cooperate with the pin12a on wheel 12, with said lever 14 being further formed with a furtherprojection 14f which is adapted for cooperation with a second heartshaped cam 18, as will be described more fully hereinafter. By thepressure engagement of the elongated strip spring 15 with the second pin140, the lever 14 is urged resiliently to rotate counter clockwise inFIG. 1 around its stud pin 7c which is fixedly mounted on the upperchronograph bridge, although not shown.

Numeral 16 represents a stop lever which is formed with a pair ofsubstantially oppositely arranged tongue projections 16a and 16b, andwith a depending hollow cylindrical projection 160, with the firsttongue 16a being'inclined upwardly and the second tongue 16b beinginclined downwardly, relative to the paper of FIG. 1. The stop lever 16is slidable along a pair of stationary pins 72 and 7f, which depend fromthe upper chronograph bridge, although not shown, the vertical positionrelative to the paper of FIG. 1 being set at a proper height levelbycontact of a part of said tongue 16awith the projection 14f ofoperator lever 14, so far as the relative position of several relatedparts is held as shown in FIG. 1.

A conventional chronograph spring 17, having substantially a S-shape isarranged concentrically with a chronograph seconds hand arbor 19 whichis rotatably mounted in and between the pillar plate 1 and the upperchronograph bridge through suitable bearing means although not shown.The heart shaped cam 18 is fixedly attached to the arbor 19 for unitaryrotation therewith.

Minute hand stop lever 20 has a long arm 20a and a short arm 20b, withthe top end of said long arm 20a being normally kept in contact with thepin 14b and the short arm 20b being normally separated from contact withthe periphery of a chronograph friction wheel 21.

' Heart shaped cam 22, only schematically shown, is fixedly mounted on aconventional chronograph minute hand arbor 23 which is rotatably mountedin suitable bearings mounted in turn in the pillar plate 1 and the upperchronograph bridge, not shown.

Buffer lever 9 is formed with an angular short arm 9b and a longercurved arm 90, with said short arm being urged resiliently by contactwith the tip end of an elongated pressure spring 24 which is fixedlymounted at its crooked root end on the lower chronograph bridge, notshown, by means of a stud pin 8b, and the crooked arm end of said spring24 is kept in engagement with an opening 80, only schematically shown.In this way, the buffer lever 9 is urged to rotate around said pivot pin7b in a counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1. It should be noted,however, that the opening 8a is shown as if it had been drilled throughthe barrel bridge 2 and that the stud pin 8b had been studded thereon,only for simplicity of the drawing.

The longer arm is formed with a depending shoulder part 9d, as best seenin FIGS. 5 and 6. The thus vertically' staggered tip end part of saidlong arm 90 extends into a space 93 defined between and by the edge of aperipheral relatively large and shallow recess 2a on barrel bridge 2 andthe downwardly crooked shoulder 5c of the motion-transmitting lever 5,as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The upper and lower chronograph bridgesare shown in FIGS. 5. and 6 at 7 and 8, respectively in their section.Numeral 25 represents a conventional self-winding weight mass forautomatic winding, and said weight mass being is rigidly supported'on arocker arm 26 which is rotatable mounted at the center of the upperchronograph bridge, although not specifically shown.

As seen from FIGS. l-3, push buttons 3 and 4 are positioned with thelevers 5 and 6, respectively. Although the regular winding andtime-setting stem is also provided, it has been, however, omitted fromthe drawingonly for simplicity.

In the off-service position of the chronograph mechanism shown in FIG.1, the main working parts are shown at their relative position shown inFIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2, until actuator lever 6 is slidinglyshifted to its innermost position shown therein, by sliding contact ofscrew stud 2k with guide slot 6b. By this sliding inward movement ofactuator lever 6, the pawl projection 60 thereof willact upon the wheel12 by en-. gagement with its peripheral tooth 12b, thereby the wheel 12is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 by one tooth pitch. By thismotion, tooth-like projection Me on the lever 14 will ride onthe'related one of the pins 12a on the wheel 12, as clearly seen fromFIG. 2, whereby the lever 14 is correspondingly swiveled around itspivot pin 7c clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the projection 14f on lever14 acts upon stop lever 16 by pressure contact with its projectingtongue, 16b, so as to bring the lowermost end of said cylindricalprojection 160 into pressure contact with the ends of arms of theS-shaped chronograph spring 17, with the latter being kept in mechanicalseparation from cooperation with the conventional fourth wheel, notshown, of the regular time-keeping gear train of the watch movement,said fourth wheel being rotatably mounted on the arbor 19. This arbor 19is therefore deprived of driving torque normally supplied from the geartrain through the fourth wheel and thus brought to adead stop, togetherwith the chronograph seconds hand, not shown, attached thereto. At thesame time, the pin 14b acts upon the long arm 20a of stop lever 20 whichis thus caused to rotate counter clockwise in FIG. 1 until its short arm20b is broughtinto pressure contact with the friction wheel 21, Thiswheel 21 is thus brought into dead stop, together with the chronographminute hand arbor 23' carrying the chronograph minute hand, notshown. Inthis way, both the chronograph seconds and minute hands are brought to astop.

When the finger pressure is released from the button 4, the latter iscaused to return from its operating position shown in FIG. 2 to itsoff-service position shown When the reset or return-to-zero button 3 ispushedin from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3 withregularly operating effort or speed, and in place of the secondaryoperation of the start-and-stop button 4, motion is transmitted frombutton 3 to lever 5 which is thus rotated counter clockwise in FIG. 2around its pivot pin 7a, until it occupies the position shown in FIG. 3.In this 'way, the arm 5b is brought into separation from the pin 9a onbuffer lever 9. Thus, the lever 9 is rotated counter clockwise aroundits pivot pin 7!) under the resilient force exerted by the spring 24 andfinally, its longer arm 9c is receded from the operating field of themotion-transmitting lever 5.

During this operation, the intermediate projection 5a exerts pressureupon the pin 14d on the start-and-stop lever which is thus turnedclockwise around its pivot pin 70, whereby the actuating projections 14fand 14a act upon the respective heart shaped cams 18 and 22 forreturning the chronograph seconds and minute hands to their respectivezero positions corresponding those of these cams which are shown in FIG.3.

Upon release of the finger pressure from application on the button 3,the lever 5 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 and the end arm 5b is broughtinto engagement with pin 9a so as to rotate the buffer lever 9clockwise. At the same time, the intermediate projection 5a on lever 5is separated from contact with pin 14d, and thus the lever 14 is causedto rotate counter clockwise under the influence of spring force at 15and the main operating parts of the chronograph are returned from theirposition shown in FIG. 3 back to that shown in FIG. 2.

When the reset button 3 is pushed-in from its offservice position withthe chronograph hands kept in their operation as referredto-hereinbefore with reference to FIG. l, the lever 14 is moved from itsposition shown in FIG. 1 through an intermediate position shown in FIG.2 to the reset position shown in FIG. 3. Since, in the intermediateposition shown in FIG. 2, the chronograph hands are positioned at theirstopped one, the similar reset operation can naturally be assured.

In the position shown in FIG. 3, stop lever 16 has been shifted to itslower level by actuation of operator lever 14 from its uppermost levelposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 upon performing a slight amount ofdownwardly sliding movement along stationary guide pins 7e and 7 f andrelative to the level of the paper of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4, the buffer lever 9 is shown in its operating position. Inthis case, the reset button 3 has been pushed-in fromthe position shownin FIG. 1 or 2, as the case may be, with a sudden and substantialpressure, as may be met when the watch has been droped on the floor.Therefore, the motion-transmitting lever 5 is suddenly rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 4 about pivot pin 7a before an execution of thereceding movement of buffer lever 9 to its free position from beingeffected by the lever 5 otherwise cooperating therewith. Therefore, theresilient and longer arm 9c of buffer lever 9 is caught at its tip endby and between the shoulder 5c on the lever 5 and the recessed wall edge2a of barrel bridge 2, as most clearly seen from FIG. 6. Theotherwiserotationally receding velocity of buffer lever 9 is determined by themoment of inertia thereof, on the one hand, and by the spring forceacting thereon by the buffer lever spring 24, on the other hand.Therefore, the desired minimum receding period of the buffer arotational movement of start-and-stop lever 14 is positively anddefinitely prevented. Any breakage of chronograph hand arbors l9 and 23by application of sudden and substantial shocks can be avoided thereforein this manner. According to a practical experiment, any breakage ofthese chronograph hand arbors has not been experienced so far as thebutton 3 is manually operated. l

The invention is' not limited to the chronograph watch shown anddescribed, but is applicable to those which are fitted with controlbutton means adapted for the control of time-indicating hands and havedelicate working parts liable to damage by reception of shockstransmitted thereto through the control button means.

In FIG. 7, the relative relationship betweenmotiontransmitting lever 5and buffering lever 9 is shown on an enlarged scale for better aunderstanding of the invention. In this drawing, a minimum recedingangle is shown which corresponds to the aforementioned minimum recedingdistance of the buffering lever.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment will be describedin detail.

In these figures, numeral 101 denotes a base plate, preferably a maintrain bridge, of a watch and numeral 102 represents a watch case, onlypartially shown, normally fixedly, yet detachably attached to said baseplate, although the attaching means have been omitted from the drawingfor their very popularity. The case 102 is formed with a recess 102a forloose reception of an enlarged head 105a of a push button 105, and witha guide opening 102b for allowing axial movement of a stern part lb ofthe push button. Said button 105 is similar with that shown at 3 in thefirst embodiment.

Numeral 103 represents a second hand arbor which is similar to thatshown at 19 and kept in friction contact with the conventional fourthwheel of the regular time-keeping gear train, although not shown. Aheart shaped cam 104-which is similar to that shown at 18, is fixedlymounted on the arbor 103.

Numeral 106 represents an inertia lever which in its function is acombination of the operator lever with the buffer lever in the foregoingand formed with a slot 106a, a first projection 10612 adapted forcooperation with the push button 105, a second projection l06c adaptedfor cooperation with an enlongated arm 108b, an actuating end 106dadapted for cooperation with said heart shaped cam 104 and a resilientarm l06e extending between said first projection l06b and said actuating end 106d. A pin 107 which is fixedly mounted on said bridge 101,is kept in slidable and pivotable engagement with said slot 106a. Adouble spring member 108 is fixedly mounted at its root portion by aguide pin 91 and a set screw 92 on the base plate 101, with said member108 having a first spring arm 108a kept in engagement with a ring groove105a formed on the button stem 105k for returning the button from itspushed-in actuating position to its regular partially exposed offserviceposition, and a second spring arm 108b adapted for pressure engagementwith said second projection 106c of the inertia lever 106. A stationarypin 109 is fixedly mounted on'base plate 101 and is kept in slidablecontact with said inertia lever 106 for guiding the movement thereof. Areturn lever 110 is pivotably mounted on base plate 101 by means of apivot pin 110a and kept by its one arm end with said ring groove 1056 onbutton stem l05b and adapted with another arm end for contacting theinertia lever 106 for control of the movement thereof. I

The operation of the second embodiment is as follows:

When an operator or watch wearer pushes the button inwards from its fullline position to its chaindotted line position in FIG. 8 with hisregular finger pressure, the return lever is rotated counter clockwisefrom its full line position to its chain-dotted line one in FIG. 8, soas to bring inertia lever 106 into its free position. Then, this lever106 is urged by spring arm 108b to move leftwards in FIG. 8 from itsfull line position, while being guided by guide pins 107 and 108. Then,the projection 106b on inertia lever 106 is brought into contact withthe inner end of button stem 105b upon preparatory advancement of saidprojection 106b below said button stem end. At the last stage of thepushed-in movement of the button 105, certain inward pressure istransmitted from the button stem l05b through its contact with theprojection l06b to the inertia lever 106 which is thus turned slightlycounter clockwise in FIG. 8 around guide pin 107, so as to bring thelever into its chain-dotted line positionfor contact with the heartshaped cam 104. Thus, the heart shaped cam 104 together with its arbor103 carries the chronograph seconds hand, not shown, for resettingthereof to its zero position.

Even if a sudden and strong axial shock should be applied to the pushbutton 105 under these conditions, it will be absorbed by and in theresilient arm 106e of inertia lever 106 and only thereafter, the pushbutton head 105a is brought into contact with the bottom surface ofrecess 102a. In this way, otherwise possible breakage of the sensiblearbor 103 and the related jewel bearings, not shown, can be effectivelyavoided.

When the finger pressure is released from the push button 105 uponcompletion of resetting job in the above sense, the spring force ofinertia control spring arm l08b becomes effective for clockwise returnrotation of the inertia lever 106, while, at the same time, the pushbuttonretum spring arm 1080 becomes effective for return movement of thebutton 105 and for bringing the return lever 110 to rotate counterclockwise. Hence the inertia lever 106 is urged to move rightwards toits full line position shown in FIG. 8.

When sudden and substantial mechanical shock is applied to the pushbutton 105 shown in full lines in FIG. 8, return lever l 10 will berotated as before clockwise so that the inertia lever 106 is releasedinto its free position. Then, the inertia lever 106 will be movedleftwards under the influence of spring arm 108b, yet with a certainlever 106 being urged to move rightwards to its full line position shownin FIG. 8.

When a sudden and substantial mechanical shock is applied to the pushbutton 105 shown in full lines in FIG. 8, return lever 110 will berotated as before clockwise so that the inertia lever 106 is releasedinto its free 9 position. Then, the inertia lever 106 will be movedleftwards under the influence of spring arm 108b, yet with a certainretardation as determined by its own inertia and with an acceleration asdetermined by the spring force-exerted by spring arm 108b, with theresults being such that the button 105 descends more'rapidly thanattaining its axial engagement by its innermost stem end with theprojection I06b on lever 106. In fact, the related parts of the button105 and lever 106 are so designed and arranged that the trapezoidalcone-shaped stem end of said button 105 is brought into engagement withthe upper and left corner of said projection I06b thus otherwise invitedrotational movement of the inertia lever 106 is positively prevented andkept separate from contact with heart shaped cam 104. Therefore, theshock is not transmitted to the cam 104 and its arbor 103.

In a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,numerals19l; 192; 201; 202;.202a; 203; 204; 205; 205a; 205b; 2050 and208a denote those which are similar to respective parts denoted withsame reference numerals in the foregoing second embodiment, yet eachbeing reduced by 100.

In the present third embodiment shown, the foregoing inertia lever 106has been divided into two separate members, or more specifically, aninertia member 212 and a correction lever 215. The inertia member 212 isformed with a slot 212a and a notch 212b. A stationary guide pin 213which is mounted on main train bridge 201, is kept in slidableengagement with said slot 212a. A further stationary guide pin 214 onsaid bridge 201 is kept in slidable contact with inertia member 212 forproper guidance of the movement thereof. The correction lever2l5 is keptin slidable contact with said inertia member 212 and has an elongatedslightly resilient arm 215a. with the inclined end edge of the latterbeing adapted for cooperation with-the heart shaped cam 204 fixedlymounted on seconds hand arbor 203. The correction lever is pivotablearound a stationary pivot pin 215b which is mounted on the base plate201. A twinarm spring 216 is fixed at its root portion on the base plate201 by means of a guide pin 89 and a'set screw 90, and comprises a firstresilient arm 216a which is keptin pressure engagement with theleft-hand end of the inertia member 212 for leftward pushing thereof,and a second resilient return spring arm 216b which is kept in pressurecontact with the correction lever 215 for counter clockwise rotationthereof about its pivot pin 215b. v v I Push button 205 is formed at itsinnermost end with a flange 205d whichis normally kept in contact withthe right-hand end of inertia member'2l2 and in close proximity to saidnotchf212b. a

The operation of the third embodiment is as follows:

When the push button 205 is pushed-in with usual manual effort, theinertia member 212 is moved gradually rightwards in FIG. 10 by resilientpressure exerted thereupon by the spring arm 216a, until the flange 205dis brought into full engagement with the notch 212b, while at the sametime, the inertia member is rotated clockwise in FIG. 10 around itsguide pin 213, with the correction lever 2l5 being rotated clockwisetherein against the action of second spring arm 2161;. Finally, thelever arm 215a is broughtinto'contact with the heart shaped cam 204which is thus reset to its zero position, accompanying thechronograph'seconds hand.

Even if a sudden and substantial statical force is applied axially ontothe push button 205, it is optimumly absorbed firstly by the elasticitypossessed by the correction lever 215 and then by contact of button head20511 with the bottom surface of recess 202a. Upon release of fingerpressure from the button 205 upon completion of the resetting job,correction lever 215 and inertia member 212 will be returned to theiroriginal position in which the lever is brought into contact withstationary pin 214 as shown, under the spring force at 216b, while atthe same time, push button 205 is returned to its off-service positionunder the influence of spring force at 208a. During the thus invitedupward movement of button 205, its end flange 205d will slide up alongthe upper inclined wall surface of notch 212b, with the inertia member212 being caused to shift leftwards and all the main working parts beingreturned to their full line position shown in FIG. 10.

When a sudden and substantial shock is applied axially onto the button205, the latter is caused to move inwards at a substantially rapid speedwhile the otherwise regular rightward movement of the lever 212 can notkeep pace with the button movement by virtue of a relatively large massof the lever and a relatively small back-up spring force at 216a. Thus,the end flange 205d of button 205 will step over the notch 212b, asshown by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 10, and a correction movement forcarrying out the resetting job is not brought aboutg The criticalpush-in speed of the button 205 necessary for the execution of saidcorrection movement depends in practice not only upon the mass of thelever 212 and the strength of inertia control spring arm 216a, but alsoupon the specifically selected configuration and dimensions of the notch212b, especially the notch length H and the step length L specificallyshown in FIG. 11.

In a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, main similar componentsare shown by respective same reference numerals shown in the thirdembodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, yet each being added with 100.

Numeral 308a represents a push button return spring, the tip end ofwhich is kept in engagement with a first ring groove 305c on button 305.

Numeral 312 represents an inertia member which corresponds in itsfunction to that shown at 212 in the third embodiment, with the innertip end of said member 312 being kept in slidable engagement with asecond ring groove 305e on the push button 305 and with a stationaryguide pin 314 on the-base plate 301. The right-hand shouldered end 312ais adapted for cooperation with either a notch 321a or a shoulder 321bformed on a positioning member 321 fixedly mounted on the base plate 301by means of a guide pin 293 and a set screw 294 as shown. The inertiamember 312 has a slight resiliency as a whole.

An elongated inertia control spring 316 kept in contact with the inertiamember 312 so as to provide normally a pressure force to the latter asshown by a small arrow B shown in FIG. 12, with saidspring 316 beingfixedly attached at its root end to the base plate 301 by means of aguide pin 295 and a set screw 296.

Angular-shaped correction lever 315 is pivotably mounted by its pivotpin 291 on the base plate 301 and adapted for cooperation by its one armend 315b with the inertia member at its left-hand end, while the otherarm end 315a is adapted for cooperation with a heart shaped cam 304which is similar to that'shown at 204 in the third embodiment. Anelongated return spring 317 is fixedly attached at its root end portionto the base plate 301 by means of a guide pin 297 and a set screw 298,while the tip and of said return spring is kept in pressure engagementwith the correction lever 315 at an intermediate portion in proximity ofsaid other end 315a thereof.

The operation of the lows. I

When the push button 305 is pushed in with a reasonable finger pressureby the operator, the inertia memher 312 is swivelled around at anintermediate portion thereof which is in proximity of its contactingpoint with control spring 316, clockwise in FIG. 12 while being shiftedrightwards therein by virtue of the resilient urging force exertedthereon by the control spring 316 and of the guiding action bycontact'with the guide pin 314. In this way, the right-hand andshouldered end 312a of the lever 312 will enter into the notch 321a ofstationary positioning member 321, and the lever 312 will perform apartial rotation around said notch 321a counter clockwise in FIG. 12. Inthis way, correction lever 315 is partially rotated counter clockwiseand brought into cooperation with heart shaped cam 304 which is thusreset to its zero position, together with the chronograph seconds handarbor 303 carrying thereon a chronograph seconds hand, not shown. Thisposition fourth embodiment is as folof several related members is shownby chain-dotted lines in FIG. 12. 1

When the finger pressure is relieved from application to the push button305, thereturn spring 308a will act upon the button. This returnmovement of the button and the spring force at 316, will act in themutually assisting direction upon the lever 312 which is thus brought atfirst into contact withguide pin 314, and while in the coursethismovement, the lever end 312a will rise up along theupper inclinedwall surface of said recess 321a of positioning member 321 until itreturns to its full line position shown in FIG. 12.

When a sudden andsubstantial mechanical shock is applied axially to thebutton head 305a, the button 305 is rapidly shifted inwards foractuation of the inertia member or lever 312 to move rapidly inwardsbefore the inertia member or lever 312 has performed an enough rightwardmovement as hereinbefore described. In this way, the lever end 312a canstep over the notch 321a, and the lever 312 is brought into a thirdposition shown in full lines in FIG. 13. Thus, no effect will appearupon the position and movement of the cam 304.

In the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14 and 15,several main components are represented with respective same referencenumerals as employed in the fourth embodiment, each being, however,added with 100 for easy comparison and better understanding. A 1

Numeral 406 represents an inertia lever which is attached at its one endwith a pin 406a which is slidably received in a slot 401a providedthrough the base plate 401, while the opposite end 406b of said inertialever is adapted for cooperation with heart shaped cam 404. At anintermediate point, nearer to the pinned end, of both ends, the inertialever 406 is formed with a motion-receiving projection 4060 adapted forcooperation with innermost end 405d of push button 405. The part t 2406d of the inertia lever 406 which extends between said projection 406cand the cooperating end 406b with heart shaped cam 404, constitutes aspring part of said lever.

A double arm spring 408 is fixedly mounted on the base plate 401 bymeans of a guide pin 391 and a set screw 392. This spring 408 comprisesa first spring arm 408a which is kept'in engagement with a ring recess4050 as before, and a second spring arm 408b which is kept in pressureengagement with the pin 406a, whereby in cooperation with guide pin 414studded on the base plate, the inertia lever 406 is positioned at itsfull lined position shown in FIG. 14. In this position, the pin 406a iskept at its uppermost position relative to slot 401a as shown in FIG.14.

Numeral 416 represents a return spring which is fixedly attached to itsroot portion to the base plate by means of a guide pin 395 and a setscrew 396. The tip end of this return spring 416 is kept in pressurecontact with inertia lever 406.

The positioning spring arm 408b for the slidingly shiftable pivot pin406a and the return spring 416 are selected so that the former has arather stronger spring force than the latter, while the spring part 406dhas a considerable mass.

The operation of the fifth embodiment is as follows:

When the push button 405 is pushed-in with reasonable finger pressure,it urges the inertia lever 406 by contact with its motion-receivingprojection 4060. Since, in this case, even rather large inertiapossessed by the lever 406 affects practically no influence and thepositioning spring arm 408b is practically not fixed, while the returnspring arm 416 is flexed so that the lever 406 will perform a counterclockwise partial rotation around its pivot pin 406a, until it occupiesthe chain-dotted line position shown, until it is brought intocooperation with the heart shaped cam 404. This cam 404 is thus reset toits zero position. Even if an appreciably large statical force isapplied to the button, it will be absorbed at first by the resilientlever part 406d or by the flexture of the pivot-stabilizing spring arm408b, accompanying a downward movement of the pin 406a. Then excessforce is taken up by the bottom surface of recess 402a receivingpositively the pushing button 405.

If a sudden and substantial shock should be applied to the push buttonaxially, the appreciably large inertia of the inertia lever 406 aboutits pivot pin 406a will act to reset the turning movement of the lever,and the pivot pin 406a will slide along the slot 401a upon flexing boththe spring arm 408b and return spring 416. In this way, otherwisepossible breakage of arbor 403 or damage of its bearing means, notshown, can effectively be avoided.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the invention is not limited tothe chronograph mechanism, but it can be effectively to be brought aboutin any push-button type motion-control or correction mechanism of atimepiece. For instance, calendar mechanism'or the like can be calledfor.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu- I bly arrangedbetween said button and said sensible member for cooperation with saidbutton and said sensible member, a buffer lever adapted to release orrestrict the motion-transmitting member, said motiontransmitting memberhaving a first position in which force from the push button istransmitted to the sensible member and asecond position in which forceistransmitted to the buffer lever but not to the sensible member, springmeans urging saidmotion-transmitting member towards its cooperatingposition with said button, and means for bringing themotion-transmitting member to its first and second positions, a regularmanual pressure force applied to said button being transmitted from saidbutton through said motiontransmission member to said sensible member inthe first position, when the buffer lever releases themotion-transmitting'member and a sudden and substantial forcesubstantially larger than said manual pressure force applied to saidbutton being transmitted to the buffer lever in the second position ofthe motiontransmitting member when the buffer lever restrains themotion-transmitting member, the alternative actions of the buffer leverbeing determined by the combined influences of its inertia and thespring resiliency of said spring means.

2. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1,further comprising a stationary member, said buffer lever being arrangedto partially enter into a space defined by and between saidmotiontransmitting member and said stationary member, and being capableof receding from said space upon application of a regular manual pushingeffort upon said but ton and yet being squeezedly caught by and betweensaid motion-transmitting member and said stationary I member uponapplication of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock to said button.

3. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1,wherein said motiontransmitting member made as one body with said bufferlever is kept in engagement with a ring recess provided on said buttonand backed up by said spring means for performing a sliding movement ina direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of saidbutton with said motion-transmitting member being adapted for engagementat its one end with a notch formed on a stationary positioning member,an engaging end of said motion-transmitting member acting as a pivotthereof upon application of regular manipulating effort onto saidbutton, and said engaging end stepping over said notch withoutengagement therewith upon application of a sudden and substantialmechanical shock onto said button.

4. The push button-operated motion-transmitting or display correctionmechanism of claim 1, wherein said one motion-transmitting member isslidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through apinand-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable withsaid connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring meanscooperable with said one motion-transmitting member and resilient forcesex- 1 erted by said second and third spring means being so selected thatby application of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, thepivot of said member at said connection will perform a sliding motion.

5. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1,wherein the timepiece includes a base plate and said motion-transmittingmember made as one body with said buffer lever is mounted slidably andpivotably on said base plate through a pinand-groove connection, withthe sliding direction being directed substantially at right angles tothe axis of said push button, and spring means backing up saidmotiontransmitting member.

6. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1,wherein said motiontransmitting member made as one body with said bufferlever is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary memberthrough a pin-and-groove connection, a second spring means beingcooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a thirdspring means cooperable with said motion-transmitting member andresilient forces exerted by said second and third spring means being soselected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon thebutton, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform asliding mo- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OFv 'CORRECTIOPATENT N0: ,3 I I v v "DATED September 3, 1974 INVENTOR(S) TetsuoMatsmnura, et al' It is certified that erro appears in theabove-identified patent and thatsaid Lett rS Patent are hereby correctedas shown below: g

[30] Foreign Priority Data Japanese Patent Appln. No. 38381/1971 filedJune 2, 1971 Signed an sealed t is ism dayof April 1775.

attest: I

' C. ILARSIL-ILL DANE? Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFv CORRECTION PATENT N0. 1 2,

DATED September 3, 1974 INVENTOR(S) Tetsuo Matsumura, et a].

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat. said Letter Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[30] Foreign Priority Data:

Japanese Patent Appln. No. 38381/1971 filed June 2, 1971 Signed andsealed this 15th day of April 1775.

(53. .1) ttest:

C. I-ZARSIII-ILL DANE? -E C. LUIS-SI! Y Commissioner of Patentsittesting Officer and Trademarks

1. A push button-operated display correction mechanism for a timepiececomprising a push button, a sensible member for indication of a certaintime-related display, at least one motion-transmitting member operablyarranged between said button and said sensible member for cooperationwith said button and said sensible member, a buffer lever adapted torelease or restrict the motion-transmitting member, saidmotion-transmitting member having a first position in which force fromthe push button is transmitted to the sensible member and a secondposition in which force is transmitted to the buffer lever but not tothe sensible member, spring means urging said motiontransmitting membertowards its cooperating position with said button, and means forbringing the motion-transmitting member to its first and secondpositions, a regular manual pressure force applied to said button beingtransmitted from saiD button through said motion-transmission member tosaid sensible member in the first position, when the buffer leverreleases the motiontransmitting member and a sudden and substantialforce substantially larger than said manual pressure force applied tosaid button being transmitted to the buffer lever in the second positionof the motion-transmitting member when the buffer lever restrains themotion-transmitting member, the alternative actions of the buffer leverbeing determined by the combined influences of its inertia and thespring resiliency of said spring means.
 2. The push button-operateddisplay correction mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a stationarymember, said buffer lever being arranged to partially enter into a spacedefined by and between said motion-transmitting member and saidstationary member, and being capable of receding from said space uponapplication of a regular manual pushing effort upon said button and yetbeing squeezedly caught by and between said motion-transmitting memberand said stationary member upon application of a sudden and substantialmechanical shock to said button.
 3. The push button-operated displaycorrection mechanism of claim 1, wherein said motion-transmitting membermade as one body with said buffer lever is kept in engagement with aring recess provided on said button and backed up by said spring meansfor performing a sliding movement in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the moving direction of said button with saidmotion-transmitting member being adapted for engagement at its one endwith a notch formed on a stationary positioning member, an engaging endof said motion-transmitting member acting as a pivot thereof uponapplication of regular manipulating effort onto said button, and saidengaging end stepping over said notch without engagement therewith uponapplication of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock onto saidbutton.
 4. The push button-operated motion-transmitting or displaycorrection mechanism of claim 1, wherein said one motion-transmittingmember is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary memberthrough a pin-and-groove connection, a second spring means beingcooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a thirdspring means cooperable with said one motion-transmitting member andresilient forces exerted by said second and third spring means being soselected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon thebutton, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform asliding motion.
 5. The push button-operated display correction mechanismof claim 1, wherein the timepiece includes a base plate and saidmotion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever ismounted slidably and pivotably on said base plate through apin-and-groove connection, with the sliding direction being directedsubstantially at right angles to the axis of said push button, andspring means backing up said motion-transmitting member.
 6. The pushbutton-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein saidmotion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever isslidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through apin-and-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable withsaid connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring meanscooperable with said motion-transmitting member and resilient forcesexerted by said second and third spring means being so selected that byapplication of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, the pivotof said member at said connection will perform a sliding motion.